Jefferson Township Captures District 17 10U Softball Title with Statement Win Over North Pocono
By: Doug Noldy | Sportzwire | July 1, 2025 | Photo courtesy Jefferson Twp LL
MOSCOW, Pa. — It was a border battle with a championship on the line, and Jefferson Township Little League’s 10U All-Stars delivered a performance for the history books. Powered by clutch hitting and dominant pitching, Jefferson Township rolled to an 11-4 victory over North Pocono DandyLion in the District 17 Championship — marking the program’s first district title in nearly 20 years.
The win not only crowns Jefferson Township champions, but also highlights a growing surge in the youth pipeline — especially exciting news for a North Pocono program fresh off a District 2 Class 5A varsity title and state playoff run.
At the heart of the win was Emma Nicholson, who stepped up in the biggest moments. Nicholson drove in four runs on two extra-base hits, including a two-run inside-the-park home run in the third inning and a clutch triple in the fifth that broke the game wide open.
Pitcher Anna Tucky was locked in from the start, striking out 10 and walking just one in a complete-game effort. She allowed nine hits but kept the DandyLion bats in check when it mattered most.
North Pocono struck first in the opening frame on a wild pitch, but Jefferson quickly countered. Nora Havenstrite grounded out to bring in the tying run before Tucky singled to center to make it 2-1. A savvy steal of home by Willow Besket added to the excitement and made it 3-1 in the second.
The third inning proved to be the turning point, with Liliana Pellegrino ripping an RBI single, followed by Nicholson’s home run and a solo inside-the-park blast from Tucky, pushing the lead to 7-1. Pellegrino stayed hot at the plate, finishing a perfect 3-for-3 to lead all hitters.
Jefferson racked up 11 hits total, with Arya Ameika and Tucky both collecting two apiece. On the base paths, Ameika and Besket created havoc, combining for multiple stolen bases, while the team as a whole swiped six.
North Pocono DandyLion 10U fought with grit, tallying nine total hits, including a 3-for-3 night from Brianna Briskie. Aubrey Gebhardt, Ella Gaus, and Sophia Bray each drove in a run to keep things close. Gebhardt also took the mound for North Pocono, striking out seven over nearly five innings of work.
For Jefferson Township Little League, this championship run is more than a trophy — it’s a revival. A program fueled by dedicated coaches, proud parents, and rising stars has planted its flag atop District 17 and now looks ahead to Sectionals with confidence and momentum.
As the next generation of athletes emerges in North Pocono, Coach Joe Miraglia and the varsity staff surely have reason to be excited about the future — and this 10U showdown might’ve just been the spark.
